Serbia sets ambitious timeline to prepare for Schengen membership by 2027

Tuesday 11 - 18:52

By: Azzat Manal

Serbia sets ambitious timeline to prepare for Schengen membership by 2027

Serbia is aiming to complete the preparations required for potential accession to the Schengen Area by the end of 2027, according to European Integration Minister Nemanja Starović. The announcement reflects Belgrade’s broader efforts to advance its European integration process and align its institutions with European standards.

Speaking to Serbian public broadcaster RTS, Starović said the government had already developed a comprehensive action plan covering the requirements associated with joining the Schengen system. The authorities intend to complete the planned measures by the end of 2027 so that Serbia can be fully prepared if the country moves toward participation in the border-free European area.

The Schengen Area currently brings together most European Union member states as well as several associated countries. Its members have largely removed internal border controls while maintaining common rules governing external borders, visas and security cooperation. For candidate countries such as Serbia, meeting the relevant technical and institutional standards represents an important part of deeper integration with the European Union.

Starović described the Schengen file as a potentially significant issue in the next phase of European enlargement. Serbia has been an EU candidate country for more than a decade and has been working on reforms covering areas such as the rule of law, public administration, the economy and the functioning of democratic institutions.

Belgrade has repeatedly stated that EU membership remains a strategic objective. Serbian authorities have also emphasized their intention to continue implementing reforms and meeting the requirements linked to the accession process.

However, progress toward EU membership has faced challenges. Serbia’s accession negotiations involve numerous policy areas, and several negotiating chapters and clusters still require further progress. Belgrade had previously hoped that the European Union would open its third negotiating cluster, covering areas such as taxation, social policy, education, culture, media and entrepreneurship, but the expected step has yet to take place.

The government’s 2027 target therefore represents an ambitious timetable rather than a guarantee of Schengen accession. Completion of technical preparations would not by itself automatically grant Serbia membership of the Schengen Area, as broader political and institutional decisions would also be required.

Nevertheless, the Serbian government sees closer alignment with European standards as an important component of its integration strategy. Preparing its border-management systems, administrative structures and security mechanisms could strengthen the country’s ability to participate in European cooperation mechanisms in the future.

Serbia’s latest announcement comes as the European Union continues to consider how future enlargement could reshape the bloc. For Belgrade, completing the planned reforms by 2027 would provide an important benchmark for measuring progress toward closer European integration.